What People are Saying About Lance:

“Funnier and deeper than Marley and Me.”— Professor Gary Andrews

“Profound and compelling.  An absolute must read for any animal lover.”—Beverly Bothelo, author

​“Couldn't put this book down. Thanks to Lance, I had to finish it and was late for work!”  — Ruth Bush

I bought the e-version of Lance’s story late last night. I read until I fell sleep and finished it this morning. Could not put it down. Oh, my goodness, I did not want Lance’s story to end. I wanted him to finally relax into the safety and security of life with you and Clara. I wanted you to have enough time to heal him. Thank you for a wonderful book. —Cherrie James

I met the author, Walter Stoffel, at my local library and purchased a copy of his book after he shared a few anecdotes about his life with his rescued border collie, Lance. For any dog lover, or any person in touch with their compassionate, best selves, or simply any person looking for an entertaining page-turner, Lance: A Spirit Unbroken is a MUST READ.
Walter shares the story of how he spots Lance chained 24/7 at a horrific, abusive "home", and how he takes steps to provide more and more aid and comfort to Lance, eventually adopting him and providing the unconditional love and support that Lance needs. Through Lance's story, the author touches on many aspects of love and life itself, and what makes life worth living for all of us. Lance never gave up on life, and this author and his wife never gave up on Lance. This book brings that funny, beautiful, sometimes frustrating but always worthwhile story to life. I very highly recommend this book. —Len Urban

​This was such a good read. To take in this poor guy and give him a loving home was so heartwarming. These poor animals get lost in the day to day through no fault of their own. Thank you for giving him a better life! Even at such a personal cost! —Bonnie Wagner

Last time out, I wrote about a book that impressed me, “Why Women Hunt,” by K.J. Houtman. I have a few other books that I have really enjoyed this year that I also recommend.You know, books make great Christ-mas gifts. They are readily available and won’t break anybody’s budget, so, please consider giving good reading material to your friends and loved ones.Walter Stoffel is a freelance writer and publisher from the Greater Lehigh Valley of Pennsylvania who penned an amazing tale about a border collie named Lance, who is one of the most incredible canines I have ever had the pleasure to read about.“Lance: A Spirit Unbroken” is a tale that will stick in your mind for a long, long time, I guarantee you.You know, dog stories usually fall into two categories. You have the wacky comedy adventures such as the ones recounted in “Marley and Me.” Marley was a very lovable troublemaker who found himself in all types of funny predicaments. Then, you have the tear-jerking animal stories such as “Old Yeller.” Who among us hasn’t used multiple tissues when Yeller meets his demise at the end of the book or the movie?“Lance: A Spirit Unbroken” doesn’t fall into a traditional category. Yes, Lance is a troublemaker, although quite the lovable one. He does get himself into many hilarious fixes, but that isn’t the book’s main thrust. Lance was owned for 10 years by a despicable individual who abused, tortured and mistreated Lance. Fortunately, a kind neighbor kept an eye on Lance and took care of him. Finally, Stoffel took possession of Lance. Stoffel and his family spent seven years as Lance’s owners and best friends.I am sure you think that Lance was so happy and appreciative of his new situation that he became the perfect pet, and everyone lived happily ever after. Wrong! Lance lived his life as a renegade. He was a handful for the Stoffel family every day they owned him. Yes, through hard work, he did become a better-behaved dog but never was able to shake his distrust of people because of a decade of abuse. Was Lance worth the effort or should he be put down? Stoffel had to come to grips with a very hard decision. The story ran me through a gamut of emotions. The book has its share of smile-inducing moments. At times, I actually laughed out loud. Of course, the book has its share of moments that will cause you to cry. I did, and I’m not ashamed to admit it. The book is unique, and I highly recommend it. The fact that the picture of Lance on the book’s cover looks incredibly like my new best friend, Buster, has nothing to do with it, I swear. Enjoy! --Steve Sarley, Illinois Outdoor Magazine      

“This book struck a nerve. Because of my own childhood, I could relate to Lance’s life, and the author’s too.” — Krystyl Unger

“Can’t wait to see the movie.  Lance is a rock star.”— Donna Koehler

  “This is the dog book to end all dog books.”—Rick Wurster

If you love dogs, this is a must read. If you are disinterested in dogs, this is a highly recommended read. Lance is a story about a rescued dog who had been abused for years, masterfully told with dry, self- deprecating humor and honest self-reflection. The author has captured the indomitable spirit of this abused border collie and borderline feral animal to the point where I felt that I knew both Lance and Walter well by the time I finished the book.
Walter Stoffel tells this true story with great detail about Lance’s behaviorial traits while often drawing comparisons to his own bumpy adolescent experience. This book is charming, but it is a whole lot more than that. It is an inspirational story wonderfully told. I highly recommend it.—Barbara Cooney